What are the current rules and implications for tourists regarding visa exemptions and extensions in Thailand?

Todd McGowan well, remote and online work is still work, illigal work in Thailand ifyou're on tourist visa

Liam O'Brien there are many who can afford the time. Especially in today’s time of online or remote work.

Todd McGowan The fact that he's talking about his parents coming over to visit him suggests that on balance, it's more likely he isn't a retiree (although it can't be completely ruled out, of course).

Marko Duranovic you just fixed your own doubt… million of retirees all over the world. Not everybody is broke or working for a paycheck

Denny Moore METV will get you a 180 days and more if you need it

Todd McGowan what like getting the correct visa for your stay u mean ?

Denny Moore of course there is. You not knowing how to get more than 150 days is not indicative of most people’s ability to do so

RadiantCamel1017 yes we agree. Some people were saying that 150 days didn't equal being a tourist and yet they have a tourist visa that lasts that long. So it's not that they aren't tourists. It's that if you're going to stay that long Thailands wants some extra background.

Stephen Lodewick Getting an METV means you're being vetted and thus anyone with that sort of itinerary- spending more than 3 months in Thailand for touristic purposes up to 6 or 9 months and traveling to neighboring countries in between visits should apply for that visa.

Mike Veldhuizen Yet Thailand offers a tourist visa good for 6 months with stays lasting 60 days at a time. So what he is describing fits Thailand's definition of a tourist - they just want people to pay for the opportunity instead of repeatedly using the free scheme which was intended for short term visitors.

ZanyMoose1408 it depends on the Immigration officer you are standing in front of. We can't yet foresay, right now when the visa-exempt gets back to 30 days. We need more reports from people who tried that

RadiantCamel1017 yes they do, iv quit my job to travel so your incorrect mate

Gray Allen No, it's how to deter drifters. Real tourists don't spend weeks or months in a foreign country. They have jobs, careers, families and other duties to attend to back home.

Gray Allen I think the reason they changed the number of days is because they say that is t normal for a tourist. They believe those who stay that long are up to other things, so yes, they are trying to deter those type of travelers

Gray Allen says you

Gray Allen Nonsense. Many travelers purchase tickets to Thailand a few weeks, like 1 month ahead of their travel.

@Gray ******

Yes, let's keep the temporary thing forever to make a few people happy.

Gray Allen i bought mine in January for end of November to January.

@Brandon ***********

I was on visa exempt when I got a 30 day extension.

Angelo Schneider there are no hard and fast rules when it's left up to the discretion of IO whether you're allowed in in or not.

Angelo Schneider and you don't know it either, just want to have the opinion leadership. So sad

Angelo Schneider The problem here is that neither "we" nor you know (all) the rules.

A basic understanding and common refrain, since late last year has been, upon staying 60+30, leaving and coming back in shortly thereafter, the IO would tell the traveler something like "OK, but next time get a proper visa". This, purportedly, to not allow foreigners to "live" in Thailand without getting the proper permission.

As well, the second extension would sometimes be for 7 days instead of the usual 30.

This has been told more than a few times around here and elsewhere since roughly last November, when rumors of the reduction to 30 days began.

So, with NO official word of how many times one may enter visa-exempt, at least by air, and how many total days one can be in Thailand as a "tourist", it kinda sorta stands to reason that the tightening of v-e entry and, likely(?) some other things, may follow.

@Brandon ***********

Has nothing to do with "maxed out". If an IO has issues: then there most likely is an issue.

And the people reporting here about: "oh my god, I got pulled out, and ..." usually never tell us what the real issue is.

So: we don't know it. There is basically never - absolutely never - any problem if you are in the rules.